Wygant Carol A, Hartman Cassandra, Xia Xueting, Michaels Nichole L, Ruch Donna A
The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.
College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
JAACAP Open. 2025 May 28;3(3):655-662. doi: 10.1016/j.jaacop.2025.05.003. eCollection 2025 Sep.
Youth suicide is a growing public health concern, and younger preteens have experienced notable increases in suicide rates. Suicide by firearm among preteens have increased more than all other suicide methods combined. The current study examined characteristics and precipitating circumstances associated with firearm suicides among preteens and teens ages 8 to 17 years.
This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the National Violent Death Reporting System from 2012 to 2021 on youth firearm suicide decedents (N = 3,768). Comparisons between preteens (8-12 years old) and teens (13-17 years old) were analyzed using linear mixed models that adjusted for sex, race, and ethnicity.
The sample included 229 preteen and 3,539 teen firearm suicide decedents (14.7% female; 9.4% Black; 8.1% other race; 82.5% White; 10.7% Hispanic). Preteens were more likely to be female (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.26-2.46) and Black (AOR = 1.72; 95% CI, 1.14-2.58) compared with teens and more likely to experience family (AOR = 1.69; 95% CI, 1.27-2.23) and school (AOR = 2.04; 95% CI, 1.51-2.74) problems. Preteens were less likely than teens to have a current mental health problem (AOR = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.32-0.68), a depressed mood at time of death (AOR = 0.49; 95% CI, 0.33-0.72), and a history of suicidal thoughts (AOR = 0.60; 95% CI, 0.38-0.95) or attempts (AOR = 0.25; 95% CI, 0.08-0.81). Among cases with firearm-related information, most youth had access to a gun that was unlocked or loaded.
Findings suggest that universal suicide risk screening and assessment is warranted, especially for younger preteens, and advocating for safe firearm storage practices remains a key component of prevention for this population.
青少年自杀是一个日益严重的公共卫生问题，年龄更小的儿童自杀率有显著上升。儿童使用枪支自杀的增幅超过了所有其他自杀方式的增幅总和。本研究调查了8至17岁儿童和青少年枪支自杀相关的特征及诱发情况。
这项横断面研究分析了2012年至2021年国家暴力死亡报告系统中青少年枪支自杀死亡者的数据（N = 3768）。使用对性别、种族和民族进行了调整的线性混合模型分析了儿童（8至12岁）和青少年（13至17岁）之间的差异。
样本包括229名儿童和3539名青少年枪支自杀死亡者（14.7%为女性；9.4%为黑人；8.1%为其他种族；82.5%为白人；10.7%为西班牙裔）。与青少年相比，儿童更有可能为女性（调整后的优势比[AOR]=1.76；95%置信区间，1.26 - 2.46）和黑人（AOR = 1.72；95%置信区间，1.14 - 2.58），并且更有可能经历家庭问题（AOR = 1.69；95%置信区间，1.27 - 2.23）和学校问题（AOR = 2.04；95%置信区间，1.51 - 2.74）。与青少年相比，儿童当前患有心理健康问题的可能性较小（AOR = 0.47；95%置信区间，0.32 - 0.68），死亡时情绪低落的可能性较小（AOR = 0.49；95%置信区间，0.33 - 0.72），有自杀念头史（AOR = 0.60；95%置信区间，0.38 - 0.95）或自杀未遂史（AOR = 0.25；95%置信区间，0.08 - 0.81）。在有枪支相关信息的案例中，大多数青少年能够接触到未上锁或上膛的枪支。
研究结果表明，有必要进行普遍的自杀风险筛查和评估，尤其是对年龄更小的儿童，倡导安全储存枪支的做法仍然是该人群预防工作的关键组成部分。
